The Panic in Needle Park is a 1971 American film directed by Jerry Schatzberg and starring Al Pacino in his second film appearance. The screenplay was written by Joan Didion and John Gregory Dunne, adapted from the book by James Mills. The film portrays life among a group of heroin addicts who hang out in "Needle Park" . The film is a love story between Bobby , a young addict and small-time hustler, and Helen , a restless woman who finds Bobby charismatic. She becomes an addict, and life goes downhill for them both as their addictions worsen, eventually leading to a series of betrayals. To... set the atmosphere, no music was used in the film, much of which features cinema verite-style footage. It is believed to be the first mainstream film to feature actual drug injection. Didion and Dunne visited Jim Morrison, lead singer of The Doors, during the recording of the album Waiting For The Sun as he was considered for the role of Bobby, but went with Pacino instead.
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| Release date: | May 9, 1971 |
| Directed by: | Jerry Schatzberg |
| Rated: |  |
| Runtime: | 110 Minutes |
| Producer: | Dominick Dunne |
| Screenplay by: | James Mills |